Tongue cleaning and massage instrument

ABSTRACT

A hygienic tongue cleaning and massage instrument for freeing and removing pathogenic foreign matter entrapped in the papillae of the dorsal mucosa and massaging and scraping the papillae to maintain the papillae in healthy condition. The instrument comprises an elongated handle formed at one end with longitudinally diverging arms the divergent ends of which are interconnected by a longitudinally bowed cross-bar having a laterally centered arched portion and bevelled edge faces defining leading concave contact corners of an angle less than 90* to be alternately engaged in line contact with the side marginal edges of the tongue and medial depressed area of the tongue and, when pressed firmly against the tongue and drawn forwardly from the base of the tongue to the tip, to force entrapped foreign matter from between and strip foreign matter from the papillae and propel it forwardly to the tip to be expelled.

Castanedo [4 1 June 24, 1975 1 TONGUE CLEANING AND MASSAGE INSTRUMENTEdwin W. Castanedo, Rt. 1 Box 265, Keithville, La. 71047 [22] Filed:Dec. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 429,158

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 128/62 R; 12'8/304 [51] Int. CI. A61H 7/00; A61B 17/22 [58]Field of Search 128/62 A, 304, 62 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1877 Morgenthau 128/3042/1929 Gross 128/304 United Kingdom 128/304 Primary Examiner-Richard A.Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Rick Opitz 5 7] ABSTRACT A hygienic tonguecleaning and massage instrument for freeing and removing pathogenicforeign matter entrapped in the papillae of the dorsal mucosa andmassaging and scraping the papillae to maintain the papillae in healthycondition. The instrument comprises an elongated handle formed at oneend with longitudinally diverging arms the divergent ends of which areinterconnected by a longitudinally bowed cross-bar having a laterallycentered arched portion and bevelled edge faces defining leading concavecontact comers of an angle less than 90 to be alternately engaged inline contact with the side marginal edges of the tongue and medialdepressed area of the tongue and, when pressed firmly against the tongueand drawn forwardly from the base of the tongue to the tip, to forceentrapped foreign matter from between and strip foreign matter from thepapillae and propel it forwardly to the tip to be expelled.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TONGUE CLEANING AND MASSAGE INSTRUMENTBACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention is directed to aninstrument for promoting preventive tongue hygiene practices. Whiledentists, oral hygienists, and related professionals have becomeincreasingly concerned and stressed the benefits of oral hygienicpractices, little attention has been given to the provision of methodsand means of applying such practices to the tongue. The primary emphasisin this field has been on plaque control through frequent and proper useof toothbrushes, dental floss, and liquid irrigation devices. None ofthese devices can effectively clean the tongue which is primarilycomposed of muscle tissue with a mucous tissue covering (dorsal mucosa).The tongue itself is peculiarly constructed in that its upper surfaceconsists of a generally laterally centered depressed area mergingthrough upwardly and outwardly sloping areas into convex marginalportions and is composed of minute cells which are arranged in atextured surface resembling hills and valleys covered with bumps, knownas papillae, forming a stippled surface. In a clean and healthy tongue,the papillae are quite short being virtually invisible unless the tongueis dried with a blast of air and examined closely. In a diseased ordirty tongue the papillae become elongated due to entrapmenttherebetween of pathogenic foreign matter imparting to the tongue acoated appearance, a condition which becomes exaggerated in the case ofsmokers. Even in the absence of this coated appearance, the papillaeof ahealthy tongue will harbor pathogenic foreign matter and destructivechemicals potentially hazardous to health, destructive to teeth, andpersonally discomfiting. The present invention is directed to aninstrument for hygienically eliminating the pathogenic foreign matterand destructive chemicals from the dorsal mucosa of the tongue andmassaging the dorsal mucosa in a manner to minimize the elongation ofthe papillae and maintain the tongue in a clean and healthy condition.

While there have been proposals in the prior art of so-called tonguecleaners or tongue scrapers, intended to clean the tongue, see forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 697,336 to I. Hagerty of Apr. 8, 1902, U.S. Pat.No. 1,701,616 to 1. Gross of Feb. 12, 1929, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 118,318to A. J. Fortunati of Dec. 26, 1939, and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 122,815 toJ. .I. Crosby of Oct. 1, 1940, these devices fail to provide aninstrument shaped to effectively enter into the medial depression of thetongue or receive the convex marginal areas of the tongue in a manner topermit a cleaning and massaging engagement with the dorsal surface.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention toprovide a hygienic instrument especially designed for use on the tongueto extend the preventive hygiene of the oral cavity to effectivecleaning and massaging of the dorsal mucosa so as to loosen and removeentraped pathogenic foreign matterand, through abrasive engagementmaintain the papillae in a healthy condition.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of amassage instrument forthe tongue comprising a handle portion formed atone end with longitudinally divergent arms the spaced ends of which areconnected by a laterally directed, bowed, cross-bar the center portionof which is longitudinally arched to form along one edge face a centeredconvex portion for entering and engaging the medial depression of thetongue and to form along the opposite edge face laterally spaced convexend portions for receivingly engaging the marginal portions of thetongue.

Still another object of the present invention resides is convergentlybevelling the opposite edge faces of the instrument cross-bar in adirection such that the leading corners of the cross-bar will have lineContact with the dorsal mucosa of the tongue as the instrument is drawnforwardly along the tongue thereby applying a foreward and inwardcompressive force component to the individual papillae effective toforceentrapped foreign matter outwardly from between adjacently relatedpapillae ahead of the cross-bar followed by a scraping force applied tothe contacted areas of the individual papillae acting to strip adherentforeign matter from the contacted area of each papillae.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects will appear from thefollowing description and appended claims when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the instrument provided by this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the instrument of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom the upper end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental sectional view on a substantially enlarged scaleof the upper end of FIG. 2 showing the bevelled edge faces of thecross-bar of the instrument of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to thedrawings wherein the same reference numerals are employed throughout theseveral views to indicate the same part, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the hygienic instrument of this invention which may be formedof any suitable generally rigid material. Preferably, the instrument ismade of plastic using a two part gang mold the parting line of whichlies between the wide faces 11 of handle 12 so that any molding flashthat may exist will not form sharp or jagged projections along anysurface that might engage the tongue and also to enable the cornersbetween intersecting surfaces of the cross-bar to be formed as sharpcorners but not cutting edges. If made of metal, suitable care must alsobe taken to assure that the corners of these intersecting surfaces donot form cutting edges.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, handle 11 at one end is provided witha through opening 13 by which the instrument may be hung for convenientaccess and at its opposite end is formed with longitudinally divergingarms 14. The divergent ends of arms 14 are connected by a longitudinallyoutwardly bowed cross-bar 15 the center portion of which is arched at 16as best seen in FIG. 3. Still referring to FIG. 3, it will be clear thatthe arched center portion 16 along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 3 isoffset upwardly out of the plane defined by the edge faces of arms 14 bya distance of one-half the height of side arms 14. It will further beclear from FIG. 3, that the arch of portion 16 is relatively wide andflat and that its opposed downwardly sloping edge face portions 17 mergesmoothly; about halfway to the opposite extremities of cross-bar 15,into upwardly sloping edge face portions 18 of the opposite ends ofcross-bar 15 lying in the respective planes of the edge faces of arms14. As a consequence, the upper edge face of cross-bar l5 defines acentered convex portion delimited by the intersection of surfaces 17 and18 merging into respective end located, segmental concave portions whilethe lower edge face of cross-bar defines an inverted, centered concaveportion delimited by the intersection of surfaces 17 and 18 merging intorespective end lo cated, segmental convex portions. It will be furtherobserved from FIG. 3, that the upper and lower edge faces of cross-bar15 are bevelled at 19 from end-to-end (See also FIGS. 2 and 4) so thatupper and lower edge faces intersect the inner (concave) side face 2 ofcross-bar 15 at an angle less than 90 and the outer (convex) side face22 of cross-bar 15 at an angle greater than 90.

This particular structure of cross-bar 15 is of prime importance inproviding an effective tongue cleaning and massage instrument for thetongue since close line contact between the dorsal mucosa and cross-bar15 is required to assure the forward and inward compression force whichforces entrapped foreign matter outwardly from between adjacentlyrelated papillae ahead of the cross-bar followed by the scraping of thecontacted areas of individual papillae to strip adherent foreign matterfrom the contacted areas of each papillae. In addition, the line contactalong the leading (concave) side face 21 of cross-bar l5 acts to propelthe freed particles of pathogenic foreign matter inwardly and forwardlyalong the surface of the tongue as the instrument is drawn forwardlyalong the tongue to enable the foreign matter to be readily expelledfrom the oral cavity.

APPLICANTS METHOD Applicants novel method for most effective cleaningand massaging the tongue to assure maximum hygienic benefits comprisesthe following steps in the order now to be described. The first step isto apply the cross-bar 15 to the back or inner end of the dorsal mucosaof the tongue concave side face down as seen in FIG. 3 with the handleprotruding from the mouth and held to apply a firm downward force. Theinstrument held in this position and drawn forwardly along the tonguewill press the sloping surfaces 18 of the lower edge face firmly downalong the side marginal edges of the tongue thereby forcing the sides ofthe tongue laterally inwardly and upwardly into firm line contact withthe segmental convex portions of the lower edge face of cross-bar 15. Asthe instrument is drawn forwardly, the entrapped foreign matter will beforced from between and stripped from the papillae forming the convexmarginal portions of the tongue in the manner heretofore pointed out.The freed foreign matter, due to the laterally bowed configuration ofcross-bar 15, will be forced inwardly and forwardly onto the centerportion of the tongue which, due to the downward and inward pressureapplied by sloping surfaces 18, will be arched upwardly into lightcontact with the centered concave edge face of cross-bar l5 assuringthat the freed foreign matter is propelled forwardly to the tip to beexpelled.

After this first step is concluded, the instrument is turned over aroundits longitudinal axis so the cross-bar 15 may again be applied to theback or inner end of the dorsal mucosa of the tongue, this time convexside face down nested in the medial depression of the tongue. Theinstrument held in this position to apply a firm downward force pressesthe sloping surfaces 17 of the upper edge face as seen in FIG. 3 tofirmly engage the medial depression and its wall surfaces in linecontact with the convex upper edge face. As the instrument is drawnforwardly, the entrapped foreign matter will be forced from between andstripped from the papillae forming the medial depression of the tonguein the manner heretofore pointed out. The freed matter, here again dueto the laterally bowed configuration of crossbar 15, will be forcedinwardly and forwardly along the tongue to the tip to be expelled.

If this operation is performed daily or at other frequent intervals,harmful accumulations of foreign matter can be avoided, the papillaewill be maintained in a healthy condition, and the discomfort andobjectionable odor from such harmful accumulations can be avoided.Furthermore, the cleaning and massaging operation under guidance ofqualified oral hygienists can be employed more or less frequently asrequired to treat tongue diseases due to accumulations of suchpathogenic foreign matter accumulations or to improve the bloodcirculation through the tongue where this may be deemed desirable ornecessary.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchangeswhich come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tongue massaging and conditioning instrument for enhancingthe-circulation through the tongue and freeing the papillae of thedorsal mucosa of pathogenic foreign matter potentially hazardous tohealth and destructive of the teeth comprising an elongated handleportion terminating at one end in a pair of longitudinally divergentarms mounting at their spaced ends a transversely directed, centrallyarched, cross-bar substantially in the plane of said handle and arms,the opposite ends of said cross-bar comprise reversely curved (mergethrough reversed) arcuate segments merging into the divergent arm endsand thereby forming along one edge a centered convex portion adapted,when said instrument is held to position said one edge against thetongue and drawn forwardly along the tongue, to cooperate with thedepressed medial area of the tongue and forming along the opposed edgerespective laterally outwardly and downwardly sloping end portionsadapted, when said instrument is held to position said opposed edgeagainst the tongue and drawn forwardly along the tongue, to cooperatewith the areas of the tongue laterally related to the depressed medialarea, said one edge and said opposed edge being bevelled in a directionsuch that they intersect the inner wall of the cross-bar at an angleless than 2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said cross-bar islongitudinally outwardly bowed.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONJtjme 24, 1.975

INVENT M Edwin we. CASANEDO PATENT NO.

DATED it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

column line delete g through reversed)" Signed and Sealed thiseighteenth Day Of N0vemberl975 lSEAL] Arrest:

C. MARSHALL DANN ('ummissr'mu'r nj' PGH'HIS and Trademarks RUTH C. MASONAnusmrg ()jj'r'cer

1. A tongue massaging and conditioning instrument for enhancing thecirculation through the tongue and freeing the papillae of the dorsalmucosa of pathogenic foreign matter potentially hazardous to health anddestructive of the teeth comprising an elongated handle portionterminating at one end in a pair of longitudinally divergent armsmounting at their spaced ends a transversely directed, centrally arched,cross-bar substantially in the plane of said handle and arms, theopposite ends of said cross-bar comprise reversely curved (merge throughreversed) arcuate segments merging into the divergent arm ends andthereby forming along one edge a centered convex portion adapted, whensaid instrument is held to position said one edge against the tongue anddrawn forwardly along the tongue, to cooperate with the depressed medialarea of the tongue and forming along the opposed edge respectivelaterally outwardly and downwardly sloping end portions adapted, whensaid instrument is held to position said opposed edge against the tongueand drawn forwardly along the tongue, to cooperate with the areas of thetongue laterally related to the depressed medial area, said one edge andsaid opposed edge being bevelled in a direction such that they intersectthe inner wall of the cross-bar at an angle less than 90*.
 2. Theinstrument of claim 1 wherein said cross-bar is longitudinally outwardlybowed.